FICTION

The Nitty-Gritty Gardening Book: Fun Projects for All Seasons

by Kari CORNELL
photos by Jennifer S. Larson. 48p. further reading. index. websites. Millbrook. 2015. Tr $26.65. ISBN 9781467726474. LC 2014009384.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–6—Whether they have a green thumb or not, kids will enjoy learning about mapping sunlight, testing soil pH, and choosing native plants to fill diverse garden spaces. These simple, inexpensive seasonal projects are designed to inspire minds, busy hands, and yield edifying results. Planting in pots or prepping a patch of yard has never been so fun. A cleverly formatted table of contents lists information on colorful mock plant tags, followed by a thought-provoking introduction. Instructions are clear, complete, and simple. Bright photos accompanied by pen-and-ink sketches provide user-friendly visuals. Whether composting, building stick bean poles, or creating a butterfly garden or terrarium, kids will gain a sense of scientific wonder watching their completed activities come to fruition.
VERDICT A solid book for budding ecologists, landscape architects, and horticulturists.
Reviewed by Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME
Kids can try gardening on a small scale with some big results. Following a thorough introduction, simple directions and attractive photos illustrate three projects for each season, from starting seeds in homemade newspaper pots in spring to growing salad greens in recycled plastic strawberry containers in winter. Complexity is appropriate for middle grades and up. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
, Jul 01, 2015

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